Means for measuring the level of liquids in tanks



June 13, 1950 A. H. GREGORY 2,511,632

MEANS FOR MEASURING THE LEVEL OF LIQUIDS 'IN TANKS Filed Oct. 18, 1946 Patented June 13, 1950 MEANS FOR MEASURING THE LEVEL OF LIQUIDS IN TANKS Albion Henry Gregory, London, England Application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 704,208

In Great Britain August 23, 1946 Claims. (Cl. 73-321) This invention relates to means of the float type for measuring the level of liquids, more especially for indicating the amount of liquid in a tank or like receptacle at the time being.

According to my invention, the float is supported on a chain which serves both for accurately counterbalancing the float throughout its travel, and also for actuating an indicator or pointer consisting for example of a graduated rotary drum. For this purpose, the chain "is made with similar pivoted links of such form, e. g. diamond or rhomboidal, that, assuming the chain to pass over a sprocket or like wheel associated with an indicator and the free end of the chain to rest on a supporting surface, when the float is in its lowermost position, as the float rises due to entrance of liquid into the tank, the links towards the free end of the chain will successively come to rest one on the other in such a manner that the vertical distance between the mid points of the links will be half that which exists when the links are in their fully extended positions. By this means, the unsupported length of chain on the limb opposite that to which the float is attached will always be of such weight that the float will be accurately counterbalanced. The pivotal joints of the links advantageously include rollers which, when the links are in their folded-together positions, rest against the walls of a chain case or guide so that there will be a minimum of frictional resistance to their moving into the extended position when the float descends.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a front elevation showing one example, and

Figure 2 a partial side elevation of a similar example or embodiment of my improved level indicating apparatus, the two views showing the floats in different positions.

Figure 3 is a, longitudinal section of a oneway clutch connecting the counter to a shaft turned by the float chain, and

Figure 41s a face view of the inner member of such clutch.

A is a tank preferably in the centre of which rise when the smallest quantity of liquid is ad Q5 2 mitted to the empty tank and will continue to float after the last drop has been drawn off from the body of the tank by the normal means, e. g. a petrol delivery pipe. I

The floatD is suspended in the float tube B by one limb of a chain E which extends over a sprocket wheel F fixed on a shaft G turning in ball bearings H. The other limb of the chain E forms a counterweight which causes the sprocket F to rotate when the float rises or falls due to increase or. decrease in thecontents of the tank. I

That portion ofthe chain E which is opposed to the float D and which forms the counterweight is contained in a chain case J in the form of a rectangular tube closed at the bottom and sides to prevent ingress of liquid from the body of the tank, but open at the top to allow the chain to enterand hang down Within it.

Sufiicient chain E is employed'to ensure that when the tank is empty and thefloat is only supported by the liquid which is contained in the initial flotation sump C,- the part of the chain which is acting as a counterweight is-just clear of the bottom of the chain casing.- In this way, the only part of the chain which is effective as a counterweight comprises the links which are exactlyopposite the float. -All the remainder of the chain is balanced by a-similar number of links on the other side oi the sprocket.

The links E of thechain are made as shown of diamond or rhomboidal form, the sides being of such dimensions and at such angles relatively to one another that when the links rest one on another, the vertical distance between the mid points of. the links is one half of that which exists between them when the chain is in its extended position, i. c. it is equal tohalf the pitch of the chain. -The pivot pins-K of the links are provided with rollersL for engaging the walls of the chain case G during the folding and unfolding of the links.

The shaft G is provided with a pinion M meshing with a gear wheel N on a shaft 0 runnin in ball bearings P and having fixed thereto a drum Q graduated e. g. in accordance with the capacity of the tank, the periphery of this drum moving past a fixed datum line to enable the amount of liquid in the tank to be indicated.

The shaft G is also connected to the spindle R of a counter S through a one-way clutch S, e. g. of the known free-wheel type comprising balls S" enclosed in a casing T forming one member of the clutch and running freely in recesses U in the other member U of the clutch in one di- 4 rection of rotation of the shaft G, and being held viz. the drum Q is geared to the sprocket wheel between the peripheral wall of the casing T and shaft at such a velocity-ratio that it makes one inclines U" in the recesses U in the other direcrevolution during the full travel of the float and tion of rotation of the shaft G in order to indiis graduated in accordance with the capacities cate either the amount of liquid introduced into at different heights of the level of liquid. the tank A or the amount of liquid drawn off I claim: therefrom overa given period. 1. A liquid measuring apparatus for tanks, The weightof the float Disgreaterthan that comprising a pulley rotatably mounted on said of the effective counterweight, so that when the f tank, indicating means operatively connected to level of liquid in the tank falls the float will 1 said pulley, a float, a vertically extending guide, overcome the counterweight and as the l float a supporting surface beneath said guide, a chain falls and the links of the chain pass over the extending over said pulley and having one limb sprocket, the folded links unfold and balance is cgnnectedto said float, the other limb of said maintained. v 1 "chain forming a counterbalance to the first men- When liquid is admitted to the tank, the float- ,5- ti oned limb of the chain and extending into said D begins to rise, and the effective'porftion of the guide and resting on said supporting surface, chain counterweight pulling" tlif-sprocket F the links of the chain being of similar weight around causes some chain links to be transferred and s0 shaped that when resting one on another from the float side of the sprocket to the other the vertical distance between their mid points is side thereof. When this occurs the bottom link half that which exists when they are in their E on the, counterwight side willtquch the botextended positions. I .flfgi mei he eii eeee e el' i 'e L .l., A id .meee in a pa atu as e e Lone half ofthepitch of ,tl iechain, 'Weight in claim 1, the chain of which comprises links "of this link will then besuppdrtedhy the bottom ofrhornboidal 'form.

of the ,cha 1 dfW llb ibl2t8 Qtd from 3,. :A liquid measuring apparatusas ,claimed the' total weightfof th'e counterg In this manin -claim 1, thej guide for the counterbalance I 'n'er, as'each link is transiferred fromjthe float limb, of thechain consisting of av tubular, case, side of Qth'e sprocket to the counterweight side ,thewalls otwhich serve to guide the linksof the thereof, another link in the efiective counterchainin theinunanddown movement. ,weight folds'to compensate'it. I 4. A liquid measuring apparatusas ,claimed s eachpain'o fflin' folds to the exact l ength in claim .1, comprising aguide tube for thefloat, or one pitch of the chain, the counterweight said uideltubebeing incornmunication with the ris s ete e he-s m re ee ihefie'e i ere he enlsen en i ot on sump I an accur'ate balance is maintained, 7 1 in the ,tank at the bottom of said guide tube.

A e q ,i1 ',1 91d the;linknex bo e. ib 5.. A..1iq d mea ur n app ra us fe e Hee ied v r to. one. side-9f theehein. ease comprisin a ulle rotetably m l t d eeid theyvides't partof the liuk 111?. into contact I lrtank, ajfloat guide means having vertically exl,.', withfthle wall of the'chai ncase' hich pushes 7 tending guide surfa ces, supporting meanshavkipf rbelene ieefi etp sewn ;W i l. a 1 Line elsup o ti eflsur eee e a h a d gu d 9W 1W i."1... m$l g rthgl ifi lQQXQabOVe, it 40.f aces,. af chain extending over said pulley and w l ause ite f l l)AfiBQQh'litlkWS ever, the '-,I-..,havine n bdnnected to. sa d at. the 1 79 1917 Qll l qs-l'eh l i 9 1 1B; iIl Q@ S0 other limb of said chain forming ,a counterbaleli v ng' iieg d 's e f, he,, nks emr ti .ance to the first-mentionedlimbof the chain .contact'withlthe chain case at the moment o I and extending ,between, said guide surfaces of folding. 'I l1e ,di n 1e nsionspfjhelinks and the aidguidemeans and restingon saidsupporting ,ei eu er m li at. A ides ie 1. 9h h tf u f p said pp r m n e l nks of l lfie d d flee- 3, l n eers on 3? neeflb l. f h,e chain bein of s rmilar weight an v shap d .7 ih r Preve ted pre vibe tell rs ent hat whenrestme neqnan he the ve t f gsides ithephairr a e, whlc tcause h ,distance between tne sai d, pointsof the links is 1 lL nteh n in 1 P591394, mpes e i 1111- half that whichexists when the linksare in i eld ne This. .ieei iele n ures that the ,theirrextended positions, and'.indicating. means 11,, P f l l fi fi l q ed i$ 19 2 he iiteov associated with the unit formed by the float and the chain. I Y Y Kei h's :i .een'slf he.fl iq lf were .ef. b A B iH Y GREGORY- 2..le Pte eieeke ed'ree r reil..,t ek, eeen for 55 r Q. .petrol,or'otlier liquid can be, automatically in- REFERENCES CITED gpepa-iiatgspen'lig wspm9ient-1y-=Sensi' The iollo in references are of record'in h i et l l dieet l th e e' e trer etie .i lh l file of this pat ent: e tithe-liquid mp-Famed mine-tank more 7 "UNITED STATES PATENTS l .m'e ete mih.fe el rey, eve i 'ieiii N m .N 'with a minimum ofattntipn. f 1 67,996 Pringle e111: Eeb. 2, 1892 r In the, apparatus above described it has been 1,412,429 Van Derb ck Apr. 11, 1922 assumedithatthe arnountof liquid contained in 7 1,570,481 Grain et a1 7 Jan. 19, 1926 f ""p' 1,656,705 Gould Jan. l7, 1928 2a110490 B, T..-.-.-.-:.:---,-. 8 1938 ank' has vertical lateral walls "and a horizontal bottomI nether eases; g. iwner a cylin- -Q PATENTS drica'l'tank arranged ,wit'hits "'axis lhorizontal is Number v Country Date 1 "employed th following ineafisf'inay be adopted, 5 762,451 fi n 2, 1 4 

